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November 14, 2013

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Faith & Hope, Trusting God

He Cares

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. [1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)] 

The more we trust Him, the easier life becomes. Our troubling circumstances may not change; in fact, they could even get worse. Yet, when we trust God, we change because the burden of our challenges has been lifted. Thank you, God, for your gift of hope and peace.

When I said, “My feet are slipping,” your mercy, O Lord, continued to hold me up. When I worried about many things, your assuring words soothed my soul. [Psalm 94:18-19 (GW)]

 

 

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November 13, 2013

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Bible Stories, Faith & Hope, Miracles, Trusting God

Expect a Miracle (Part 2) – He has No Limits

“A boy who has five loaves of barley bread and two small fish is here. But they won’t go very far for so many people.”

 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” The people had plenty of grass to sit on. (There were about 5,000 men in the crowd.) Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to the people who were sitting there. He did the same thing with the fish. All the people ate as much as they wanted. When the people were full, Jesus told his disciples, “Gather the leftover pieces so that nothing will be wasted.” The disciples gathered the leftover pieces of bread and filled twelve baskets. [John 6:9-13 (GW)]

Although the disciples’ resources were limited, they forgot that God has no limitations. In Jesus’ hands, the boy’s meager offering would be more than enough to feed the crowd.

Lord Jesus, don’t let our inadequacies and shortcomings constrain our vision of what we can do together. Don’t let us limit your work by deciding what is and isn’t possible. No matter how meager our resources may be, if we offer them to you, you can make them more than enough. You can multiply anything we give to you!

 For nothing is impossible with God. [Luke 1:37 (GW)]

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November 12, 2013

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Bible Stories, Faith & Hope, God's Promises, Miracles, Trusting God

Expect a Miracle (Part 1)

2013-11-12Toward the end of the day, the twelve apostles came to him. They said to him, “Send the crowd to the closest villages and farms so that they can find some food and a place to stay. No one lives around here.” Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish. Unless we go to buy food for all these people, that’s all we have.” [Luke 9:12-13 (GW)

Over 5000 people had followed Jesus and evening was approaching. The disciples saw the massive crowd and they knew they had a predicament. How could they possibly feed all of those hungry people? Although all four gospels report this story, none mention any of the disciples saying something like, “Jesus, we’ve got a problem; we need to pray!” or “Do you think we could find a way to feed this crowd? Could a miracle be possible?” No! Knowing they didn’t have enough money to purchase that much food, they simply suggested sending the crowd away. Jesus and his disciples had been healing the sick and lame. Jesus had freed people from demons, calmed a storm and even brought a young girl back to life. The disciples probably knew about the wine making miracle at Cana. Did it not occur to them that yet another miracle could occur?

Lord Jesus, forgive me when I don’t bring you my problems and trust you with a solution.

Jesus said to him, “As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes.” [Mark 9:23 (GW)]

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November 11, 2013

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Church & Worship, Prayer

The Whole World is His House of Worship

2013-11-14O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the prayers made to you in this place. [2 Chronicles 6:40 (NLT)

These were the words spoken by Solomon at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Let us, however, never make the mistake of thinking that church is the only place where we can pray or that God will hear our prayers. His eyes are always upon us and He is always attentive to our prayers, no matter where we may happen to be.

He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. [Acts 17:24-25 (NLT)]

 

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November 10, 2013

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Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, God's Promises

Spiritual Muscle Building

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. [1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)]

Comfort and serenity are wonderful (and I prefer them), but tranquility doesn’t help us mature into the people God wants us to be. Difficulties are His way of building our spiritual muscles. It’s in times of hardship, adversity and pain that the qualities of honor, integrity and courage develop. Lord, may we have thankful hearts and willing spirits, not just in times of plenty and peace, but in times of pain and hardship, as well.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through trial and suffering is the soul strengthened. [Helen Keller]

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November 9, 2013

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God's Word: The Bible, Wisdom & Guidance

Blueprint for Life

2013-11-9These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on. If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss. [Luke 6:47-49 (MSG)]

God’s words are not mere suggestions; they are orders. They are the blueprints for our existence. If the carpenter changes the blueprint without the architect’s permission, the integrity of the structure is in jeopardy. It’s not just our integrity but our souls that are in jeopardy when we don’t follow God’s plan. God’s words are the foundation on which we must build our lives.

Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. [Proverbs 4:13 (NLT)]

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said – to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
[Attributed to John Keith, 1787]